120 hr. TEFL Course Module 7-Pedagogy (Pt.5 Behaviorism)

7.1.4 Behaviorism (2 of 2)

According to this theory:

Learners are not really active in the learning process but rather passive participants who are simply responding to stimuli.

Learners begin as a blank page, and behavior is only shaped when stimuli provide either positive or negative reinforcement.

The more that a behavior is reinforced, whether negatively or positively, the more likely the student is to repeat that behavior.

In the same way, the more that a behavior is punished, whether negatively or positively, the less likely the student is to repeat that behavior.

In operant conditioning, B.F. Skinner tested the efficacy of different methods of disbursements for reinforcement and punishments. In other words, how often do you need to reinforce or punish behavior for it to have the most lasting effect on the subject?




Continuous reinforcement: This is when a subject is reinforced every time he or she performs the desired behavior. Skinner found that this did not motivate subjects. They did not work as hard, and when the reinforcement was removed, they quickly stopped performing the desired behavior.

Fixed ratio reinforcement: This is when the subject is reinforced after a specific amount of times that he or she performs the desired behavior. Skinner found that subjects worked harder with this method, and that they were less likely to stop the desired behavior after the reinforcement was removed. However, this still was not the most effective method.

Fixed interval reinforcement: This is when a subject is reinforced after a designated amount of time, provided the desired behavior has been perform ed at least once during that time. Skinner found that the subjects worked moderately hard and were about as likely to stop the behavior as the previous model after the reinforcement was removed.

Variable ratio reinforcement: This is when the subject is reinforced after a random number of times performing the desired behavior. Skinner found that this method made subjects work hard and take a long time to stop the behavior after the reinforcement was removed.

Variable interval reinforcement: This is when the subject is reinforced after a random amount of time has elapsed, provided that the subject has performed the desired behavior at least once during that time. Skinner found that this worked equally as well as the previous model, with subjects working hard and taking a long time to stop the desired behavior after the reinforcement was stopped.